Kenyan football circus continues to play itself

The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) proved to the country this week that they don’t care what the public thinks; they are hell bent on achieving their selfish aims even if they run the sport to the ground.

All indications are that unless something drastic happens within the next week, we will witness two parallel leagues: the FKF Premier League and the Kenya Premier League (KPL).

Sources have told me that all the teams that competed in the KPL last season will remain in the same league, along with the two teams that have been promoted Shabana and Rangers - although City Stars may replace Shabana should the latter not be included in the final list.

This sad scenario not only replicates the recent Uganda debacle, but is also a reminder of what happened here in 2005-06.

There are several negatives to having parallel leagues. The national team will be affected as factors such as schedules and split loyalties will hurt selections and on-pitch performances. The two clubs representing Kenya in continental assignments, Gor Mahia and Sofapaka, will also be caught up in the unnecessary wrangles.

The FKF seem determined to go all the way. There are elections this year and the officials appear to be laying the groundwork. There needs to be a thorough review of how officials are elected, as what we have witnessed this year are pure selfish interests and a thorough intolerance to other views.

After an absence of a few years, the Super 8 tournament was re-launched this week with a promise of healthy cash prizes to the clubs by the organiser Hussein Mohammed, who has had several brushes with the current FKF administration.

The Nairobi FKF Branch, which was definitely acting on instructions from above, has threatened the organisers and clubs who participate, claiming that tournaments can only be organised in November after the season. This definitely doesn’t make the FKF any more appealing to an already fed up public. But the local governing body is adamant that they will not back down.

The question is: for how long will the government tolerate what is going on, although Cabinet Secretary for Sports Hassan Wario knows he has to tread carefully due to the Fifa statute on government interference.

But one thing is for sure, the Fifa report needs to be released so the public knows the true picture of what was recommended. The clubs themselves are preparing for the new season. League champions Gor Mahia played a friendly against Zambia’s Power Dynamos last weekend losing 3-0, while Sofapaka beat the same opposition 1-0 as both squads prepare themselves for international competitions.

In the meantime, we await KPL’s official transfer list to be released and see who has moved where. One other interesting note: Azam TV are the new broadcasters of the Uganda Premier League, and this will be eagerly watched by stakeholders here.

AFCON REFEREEING IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Following the six-month suspension of Mauritian referee Rajindraparsad Seechurn by CAF for awarding hosts Equatorial Guinea a controversial penalty against Tunisia in the Africa Cup of Nations, questions have been raised as to whether the standard of officiating has been up to scratch on the continent.

Granted, there have been several decisions that have been contentious at this year’s tournament, but if you look at the bigger picture this is an issue that has dogged the football globally.

CAF has invested a fortune on trying to raise the standard of refereeing; and the fact that Tunisia might join Morocco in being locked out of the next tournament following their accusations of bias along with damaging furniture in the changing rooms following their acrimonious exit means that the continental body has taken this matter seriously.

RUGBY IN A STICKY SITUATION

In the past week, Portland Stormers RFC called for a Special General Meeting (SGM) to be held on Tuesday and which has been supported by several clubs. Now it’s understood that there is a consortium of stakeholders led by former Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) CEO Jack Okoth which is determined to vote out the current administration led by caretaker chairman Gabriel Ouko.

I have no objection to there being an SGM, but why now? The timing leaves a lot to be desired; with the KRU elections scheduled to be held next month, the last thing the sport needs now is instability after the huge upheavals in December and last month that saw the resignation of national sevens coach Paul Treu, several directors and chairman Mwangi Muthee.

Give Ouko and his team their dues; the current administration is laying the foundations for the next set of officers – a new CEO and CFO have been appointed, and the national sevens team is now delinked from any outside interference.

An audit for last season has also been conducted, and an internal investigation was launched to try and rid the Union of its tarnished image following allegations of corruption and misbehaviour among officials and directors.

Surely, they should be allowed to finish their job? Why can’t those agitating for an SGM wait one more month? Why destabilise the sport even further? What is their agenda?

For me this is a case of certain individuals wanting their turn to eat. With more money being poured into the sport there will unfortunately be people that will think of themselves more than the game, and the noble sport of rugby is rapidly shedding its image of a ‘gentleman’s game’ as greed and impunity takeover.

This is also a sad reflection of society as the ‘it’s my turn to eat culture’ is now part of the Kenyan psyche.

Sports Cabinet Secretary Hassan Wario just the week before warned stakeholders to get their ducks in a row otherwise there will be government intervention. Let’s hope that sanity prevails before it’s too late.